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Prescription Drug Take Back

On Sunday, July 12th, 2015, from noon to 5:00 P.M. Sheriff John D’Agostini and members of the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office will be giving the citizens of El Dorado County a great opportunity to rid their homes of potentially dangerous, expired, unused, and unwanted prescription medications. On the date of the take back, El Dorado County Residents can bring their unwanted medications in pill or liquid form to the following listed locations for collection and disposal. (If you are disposing of hypodermic needles or other sharp devices, for safety purposes, please keep them separated from medications that are turned in.

For South Lake Tahoe residents, Lira’s Market located at 2977 Highway 50 in South Lake Tahoe.

The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.

Over 8 previous years the DEA and its thousands of state and local law enforcement partners have collected more than 1,400 tons of prescription medications during Take Back events.

This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses. Studies have shown that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet.

Americans are also being advised that their usual methods for disposing unused or unwanted medications by flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash- both pose potential health and safety hazards and are dangerous to our water systems and environment.

The National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is no longer being funded; however Sheriff John D’Agostini felt that this program was important for the safety of the citizens of El Dorado County and the overall welfare of our communities. The Sheriff is committed to funding this program locally. Sheriff John D’Agostini is asking the citizens of El Dorado County to spread the word and to take part in this worthwhile event in helping keep the citizens and El Dorado County safe.